Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Forks Over Knives-The Movie

There's quite a family history of cancer amongst my blood relatives; breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, leukemia, skin cancer and as of yesterday, pre-colon cancer. So it was pretty natural for me to be thinking that it was just a matter of time before I was dealing with whatever form of cancer I was stricken with. It wasn't until I read The China Study that I began to challenge my beliefs about the inevitability of cancer. And that's where my weight loss journey took an interesting turn into more than just a battle with how I looked and into an exploration of my own disease prevention.

Word is starting to spread that there is a documentary called "Forks Over Knives" that will be in theaters on March 11, 2011. Here is the description of the movie, taken verbatim from http://www.forksoverknives.com/ The trailer is really great too, and I have included that below.

"What has happened to us? Despite the most advanced medical technology in the world, we are sicker than ever by nearly every measure.

Two out of every three of us are overweight. Cases of diabetes are exploding, especially amongst our younger population. About half of us are taking at least one prescription drug. Major medical operations have become routine, helping to drive health care costs to astronomical levels. Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the country’s three leading causes of death, even though billions are spent each year to 'battle' these very conditions. Millions suffer from a host of other degenerative diseases.

Could it be there’s a single solution to all of these problems? A solution so comprehensive but so utterly straightforward, that it’s mind-boggling that more of us haven’t taken it seriously?

FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the so-called 'diseases of affluence' that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering yet under-appreciated researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.

Dr. Campbell, a nutritional scientist at Cornell University, was concerned in the late 1960’s with producing
'high quality' animal protein to bring to the poor and malnourished areas of the third world. While in the Philippines, he made a life-changing discovery: the country’s wealthier children, who were consuming relatively high amounts of animal-based foods, were much more likely to get liver cancer. Dr. Esselstyn, a top surgeon and head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, found that many of the diseases he routinely treated were virtually unknown in parts of the world where animal-based foods were rarely consumed.

These discoveries inspired Campbell and Esselstyn, who didn’t know each other yet, to conduct several groundbreaking studies. One of them took place in China and is still among the most comprehensive health-related investigations ever undertaken. Their research led them to a startling conclusion: degenerative diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even several forms of cancer, could almost always be prevented—and in many cases reversed—by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet. Despite the profound implications of their findings, their work has remained relatively unknown to the public.

The filmmakers travel with Drs. Campbell and Esselstyn on their separate but similar paths, from their childhood farms where they both produced 'nature’s perfect food'; to China and Cleveland, where they explored ideas that challenged the established thinking and shook their own core beliefs.

The idea of food as medicine is put to the test. Throughout the film, cameras follow 'reality patients' who have chronic conditions from heart disease to diabetes. Doctors teach these patients how to adopt a whole foods plant-based diet as the primary approach to treat their ailments—while the challenges and triumphs of their journeys are revealed."

In addition, there are also many sneak preview showings across the country. You can bet that I will be the first one at the door of the Cedar Lee Theater on January 27th for Cleveland's sneak preview! What do you think? Are you going to join me in seeing "Forks Over Knives"?

2 comments:

I cry everytime I watch that trailer....I have such high, high hopes that when this film comes out, it can resonate with the people I love and convince them to join me. Yes, I'll be watching...and I can't wait.Sue in Ohio

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Please keep in mind that I am not a nutritionist or doctor. I recommend checking with your doctor before making any changes to your diet. Most of the information on this blog is based upon my own personal experience and research. All photographs and content are copyright Healthy Girl's Kitchen. Please contact me for permission to use photographs and content.